FUTURE Designs, the international lighting designer and manufacturer has completed the office lighting for 22 Bishopsgate, the tallest tower in the City of London, standing at 278 metres high. The project is developed and managed by AXA – Real Assets on behalf of an international consortium of investors, with Lipton Rogers Developments retained as developer.

FUTURE Designs has provided the 1.4 million sq. ft (130,000 sqm) development, set to be Europe’s first vertical village, with GLOS, a contemporary and minimalist luminaire that results in a perfectly illuminated environment. This linear recessed luminaire was developed in conjunction with WSP and 22 Bishopsgate’s architects PLP.

Wellness and its subsequent impact on productivity of workers is a high priority for the design of this office building, and FUTURE Designs GLOS fixture was tested and proved meet the wellness criteria. Luminaires were tested for melanopic lumen values. Melanopic lumens are a percentage of the light emitted which is close to daylight in terms of colour temperature. Daylight colour temperatures are beneficial to health and well-being and form part of Wellness certification.

22 Bishopsgate has London’s largest cycle park and a state-of-the-art gym, complete with a climbing window, 125 metres above the ground on level 25, as well as a wellbeing retreat on level 41. It is also the first building in the UK to apply for the Delos WELL Building Standard.This people focused building is a complex, 22 sided, faceted glass structure. The design is built and managed to satisfy the changing nature of the City of London in terms of the type, size and priorities of companies based there, including demands for high standards of technology and sustainability.

According to the statistics from the City of London Corporation*, while just over a third of businesses were financial services, tech was the fastest growing major sector in the City with jobs growth of 16%, the quality of workspace needed to reflect that in order to attract a more diverse range of tenants. Emphasis has been placed on constructing a building with flexible floorplates, high ceilings and exemplary lighting that compliments the natural light flow, which is enabled with three metres high, triple glazed windows.


The creation of approximately 100,000 sq ft of social spaces and services throughout the floors was a key part of the design. There is a 22,000 sq ft area of food and dining space on level 2, a members’ club on level 57 and London’s highest public viewing gallery on level 58.

Recognising the fact that 99% of City businesses are SMEs, there is an innovation hub for small businesses and start ups on level seven. Levels three and four, meanwhile, will house a new 51,000 sq ft events and meeting venue available for use by the hour or day. As well as providing a place for 12,000 people to work, creating a diverse business community, 22 Bishopsgate also provides a range of retail, bar and restaurant units.